Adjustable support for books, &amp;c.



U. E. BUCK.

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR BOOKS, 61:0.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.17, 1909.

925,284. Patented June 15,1909.

xfiiiz eks es:

CHARLES E. BUCK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR BOOKS, 85c.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed rebmaryiv, 1909. Serial No. 478,463.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BUCK, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Supports for Books, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a support or rest adapted to sustain a book or other object for the convenient use of a person occupying either a sitting or a recumbent position, and also adapted to be used as an adjunct for a nonadjustable table or desk.

The invention is embodied in a support comprising a fiat table or rack and a standard hinged thereto and adapted to extend between the legs of the user, and assume various angles relatively to thetable, the construction of the device being such that the person occupying-either a sitting or a recumbent position may use the device by placing one edge of the table against his body, the standard projecting from the table and passing between the users legs, and being adapted to assume the various angles required by a sitting and a recumbent position of the user, the devicebeing further adapted to lean against an ordinary table or desk as an adjunct thereof.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificat1on,-Figur 1 represents a perspective view of an adjustable support embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the same, illustrating its use by a person in a sitting position. Fig. 3 represents an edge view show ing the relative position of the table and standard when used by a person in a recumbent position.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings,-12 re resents a substantially fiat support or me which may be of solid construction, as shown, or may be of open construction, the support being in any case adapted to sustain a book or other object. For convenience, I will hereinafter refer to the support 12 as a table.

To the table 12 is hinged or pivotally connected a standard which is adapted to assume various angles relatively to the table, and to extend between the legs of the user of the device while the user is either in a sitting or a recumbent position. The standard is preferably composed of stout wire, as indiwings serving as rests taining a plurality cated in Fig. l, where the standard isshown as composed of a body portion twisting together furcated upper end portion composed" of separated parts 13 formed by two wire strands, bit

Patented June 1p, 1509'.

6O 1d of the wire strands, and

lateral wings 15 formed by suitably bending the wire of which the standard is composed,

and projecting in opposite directions from the lower end of the body portion, said v for the feetfofthe user. The portions or arms/1 1 comprising the bifurcated upper end of the standard, are bent to form trunnions 16"which enter sockets formed for their reception in ears 17 attached to the under side of the table 12. Said ears have segmental flanges, each conengage'the arm 14, the latter springlng outwardly by their own resilience, so as to hold the trunnions 16 in engagement with the sockets, and portions of the arm adjacent to the trunnions in engagement with the notches 18. Provision 1s thus made for locking the table to the standard at various angles, the arms 14 being adapted to spring inwardly toward each other to disengage them from the notches 18, and permit a change in the angle.

Two of the uses to which the described device may be put are illustrated. In Fig.-

2, the standard is shown as standing 1n an inclined position between the knees of the user whose feet bear on the wings 15, the lower edge of the table resting against the front of the users body. Fig. 3 shows an adjustment which is suitable for a person lying,on a bed or couch. standard extends between the legs. of the user, and supports the table against lateral displacement relatively to the normal line of the users vision. The extension of the standard between the users legs enables the latter to be used to prevent lateral displacement of the table either with or without the aid afforded by the wings 15. Said wings enable the users feet to prevent lateral displacement of the table without the necessity of pressing the legs inwardly against the standard.

It is obvious that the device may be supported by an ordinary table or desk, by leaning it against the top of the table or desk,

' the standard being inclined and one edge of the table engaging the desk or table top. The laterally extending wings 15 constitute a base which is elongated in one direcof notches 18 adapted to In each case thetion to prevent the standard vV13 from tip ing sidewise, or in a direction crosswise o the legs of the user when the devlce is held'as shown in Fig. 2, said base having a narrow bearing on the floor which permits the standard to be freely tipped or oscillated toward and from the user without endwise movement or displacement of the standard.

I claim:

1. An adjustable support comprising a table, and a standard hinged thereto and adapted to extend between the legs of the user, and assume various angles relatively to the table, the standard having abase which is elongated in one direction to prevent the standard from tipping sidewise, and has a narrow bearing on the floor to ermit the standard to tip freely toward an from the user without endwise displacement of the standard.

2. An adjustable support comprising a table, and a standard hinged thereto and adapted to extend between the legs of the user, and assume various angles relatively to the table, said standard having lateral wings at its lower end adapted to be engaged by the feet of the user, and constituting a base which is elongated in one direction. to prevent the standard from tipping sidewise, and has a narrow bearing on the floor to .table, adapted to extend between mental flanges,

permit the standard to tip freely toward and from the user without endwise displacement of the standard. i

3. An adjustable support comprising 'a and a standard hinged thereto and the legs of the user, and assume various angles relatively to the table, the table and standard having interlocking members adapted to secure the standard at various angles relativel to the table, and the standard being provi ed with a base which is elongated 1n one direction to prevent the standard from tipping side- ,wise, and has a narrow bearin on the floor to (permit the standard to tip reely toward an from the user without endwise displacement of the standard.

4. An adjustable su port comprising a table having ears provi ed with notched seg bifurcated upper end portion, the branches of which are adapted to enga e the notches of said flanges, and are provicfizd with trunnions ada ted to turn in said ears.

In testimony whereof'I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

. I CHARLESE. BUCK. Witnesses:

ARTHUR F. RANDALL, Looms WEYMOUTH.

and a standard having a- 

